Finding Forever (38 page)

The gnome-ish doctor stood over Evan and Taylor in the garden, his hands buried in the pockets of his seersucker linen pants.

“Some scientists believe the Singularity could happen as soon as the 2020s. Others predict the year to be more like 2045. Either way, if we adopt the proper lifestyle, it could easily occur within our lifetimes. Once we hit the Singularity, and we have total control over our biology with computers and cyber-treatments, we will no longer live within biological boundaries. Illness will no longer exist, and, therefore, death will no longer exist.

“You see, we have identified segments of DNA that get shorter as a cells age. These segments are called telomeres. When enough telomeres die, a cell can't reproduce anymore and ultimately dies. When enough cells die, we die. But from the moment you enrolled in the Program, among the daily supplements you've taken has been a pill containing an enzyme called telomerase. It's scientifically proven that telomerase not only stops the cell death, it also reverses it. What I'm trying to tell you is that you have within you the building blocks for immortality.”

Taylor raised her hand.

“Yes,” Dr. Kensington said.

“Okay, so this enzyme reverses aging,” Taylor said. “But what does this have to do with religion?”

The doctor stepped forward and held Taylor's face in his hands. “My child. The naïveté of your youth never ceases to endear you to me. Religion only exists because we have a fear of dying. Take away our fear, and we no longer need their supposed God. That, in a nutshell, is why they don't want this to exist. I'm a threat to their order. But it is my mission to save humanity, not the church. And this is the magic pill.”

He took his hands off her. “But first we have some PR work to do.”

Peter escorted Taylor and Evan across the main lawn to the living room of Casa Bell, where he handed them each a twenty-page bound document. “This,” Peter said, “will inspire the masses to find the path to Forever Land.”

Taylor held the document in both hands and read the cover page.

An Untitled Music Video Treatment for “Forever Young”

Directed by

Dr. Peter Kensington

Starring

Evan Ryan (Peter) and Taylor Prince (Wendy)

Music by

Jason Wild

Lyrics by

Dr. Peter Kensington

“This music video will not only go viral, it will tell the greatest love story of your generation. It will inspire others to join the Program. This project is nothing short of your destiny, the end result of all the events that led you here. This, my friends, will mark the start of your professional comeback from your personal struggles,” Peter told them.

“I'm honored, Dr. Kensington,” Evan said. “And to bring Taylor and me together for this is absolutely genius casting. Not to mention what we both need to revive our careers. I am a hundred percent on board.”

“Certainly, for two actors who have had to go to rehab in the same year, joining in a film project with themes such as the ones in this video will send a powerful message. And Jason Wild's song is nothing short of a musical masterpiece.”

Peter adjusted the paisley square billowing from the chest pocket of his blazer. “This project will raise the bar. Hollywood has run out of interesting, compelling, game-changing narratives. It's all the same old formula, made by the same old studios, same old directors, and starring the same old actors. Combining a hit pop song with two of the greatest actors of the Forever Generation will inspire a whole new form of entertainment.”

He held out his phone to his young disciples. “Take a listen.”

The song was classic Jason Wild, with poetic lyrics set to a techno beat, straddling the fine line between cheesy and inspirational.

       
Wendy was a girl from the heartland

       
Turning sixteen soon, she was the lead singer of a band

       
Peter was older, longed to forever be a boy

       
Appeared in Wendy's life like a dream, to bring her the same childlike joy

       
Wendy didn't want to grow any older

       
Thought Peter represented a power that proved bolder

       
A youthful Neverland the two jumped above

       
Came fame, fortune, and ultimately a love

       
For all things fresh, forever, and true

       
Wendy sang a song for her guy, simply called “I love you”

       
I love the stars, love the moon, love the way you make me swoon

       
Teach me to fly, I'll follow you high, singing together our favorite tune

       
It's a belief that can only be sung

       
Lovers willing to die to achieve the state of being Forever Young

“Take a few days to read the treatment, learn your scenes, become one with your characters. Then we will shoot next Monday and Tuesday,” Peter said.

Taylor looked at Evan, then back at Peter. “So soon?”

“Seeing as though we only have you here for less than two weeks now, we must use our time wisely.”

Taylor asked, “Why is the project untitled?”

“I'll tell you why!” Peter shouted. “Because this project is a collaboration. This is not the old-school Hollywood. This is not where child stars are ordered to do something and have no say in what they're doing. Indeed, because this is a
collaboration
, you and Evan will title the project yourselves. Does this appeal to you, Taylor? Or would you rather spend your life being told what to do, being controlled and judged and kept down by Hollywood tyrants?”

“I, I—”

“Enough, Ms. Prince. You will only truly learn by doing. And you are doing this project.”

After Evan left the house, Peter escorted Taylor to the upstairs study, leaving her alone to read the script. The study beat the antiseptic blandness of the clinic, though Taylor realized the disturbing subtext of the “punishment and reward” system that Peter had explained the other day.

Keek, keek, keek!

The sound of the squealing monkey rattling around in its cage echoed up the stairs to Taylor.

“Rafferty, down!” Peter barked from the floor below.

Taylor put the script down.

“I don't like animals,” Taylor heard a familiar man's voice say. “Especially when they are screaming at me.”

“It's not the animal, it's the cage, Beckett,” Peter answered. “Rafferty really doesn't like being put in a cage. You can't blame Rafferty for not wanting to be put behind bars, can you?”

“No, sir,” Beckett replied. “Can't blame him at all.”

Taylor tiptoed from the couch to the doorway of the study, pressing her ear up to the door.

“Which brings me to your latest delivery,” Peter said. “You probably came here wanting to get paid, didn't you?”

“Of course. That was our deal.”

“I'm sorry, Beckett. I can't pay you today. I simply don't have a reward for you today.”

“But I delivered you Taylor. That's who you wanted, isn't it? That was our deal.”

“Yes, it was. But you failed to also deliver someone else. The assignment was to bring me Taylor and her assistant. But you let her get away. Simone was ripe for the picking. We need another recruiter. Now she has gone rogue. This is not good for you.”

“I tried, but she wouldn't take the bait,” Beckett said. “I made
the moves on her, but she didn't seem to care. Taylor, however, I had wrapped around my pinkie. Just like you taught me.”

Taylor realized then who was talking: Pretty Boy. She shook her head in disbelief that she had fallen for his deception.

“You are a beautiful young man, Beckett. That's partly why I hired you. But beauty can only get you so far.”

“I tried, Dr. Kensington. I really did.”

“I'm starting to get the feeling that you aren't hearing me correctly. It was a package deal—both Taylor and Simone. Since you failed to deliver the package, you don't get paid. Those are the rules.”

Those evil bastards!
Taylor clenched her jaw tightly to silence her breathy anger.

“I promised, but you also made me promises,” Beckett shot back. “You promised me more than money. You promised me a new life for helping you bring these kids to you. You promised me freedom.”

“You made promises, too, my son, and you broke them,” Peter said. “What we have here is a simple breakdown in trust. And without trust, we can't work together.”

“When we started this relationship, you wanted me to bring you adults who had addiction issues,” Beckett said. “I felt like no matter how wrong on some levels, I was at least helping sick people. But then it became all about the kids—these teens who didn't even really have problems. This is not what I signed up for.”

“Oh, but it is,” Peter said. “I can show you the contract you signed that day in the jail.”

“I don't care what you can show me. I can guarantee you that it says nothing about kidnapping, nothing about you brainwashing kids. Definitely nothing about shocking patients. Are you going to shock Taylor, too?” Beckett raised his voice, while Taylor muzzled herself with both hands to contain her mounting
disgust—and fear. “Are you going to delete all of Taylor's memories? Are you going to ask me to tie her down and watch her foam at the mouth until her brain is so fried that she has no personality, let alone a memory? Evan didn't deserve that. Neither did Jason Wild.”

“Electroshock therapy is a last resort. It's only used when—”

“When Jason Wild tells you to go screw yourself and write your own songs? Or when Evan refuses to cut ties with his parents?”

“Stop. I am warning you. Just stop. By the way, whatever happened to bringing me that blogger who's been snooping around and calling everyone? That
Deadline Diaries
girl.”

“Brooklyn Brant? Oh, she never showed up at the house.”

“Oh, okay. But you're lying.”

Keek, keek, keek!

“I have a question for you, Beckett. What is my name?”

“Dr. Peter Kensington.”

“So then why would you call me ‘Dr. Evil'?”

“That's obviously just a joke.”

“Am I laughing?” Peter asked. “I have spies, Beckett. The police, the judges, the media, not to mention the loyal cadre of patients who have gone through the Program. They're always looking out for me. Always.” Peter punched his right hand skyward. “Rafferty,
aus! Fass! Fass!
”

Keek, keek, keek!

A shriek of pain echoed through the house and turned into a pathetic wail.

Keek, keek, keek!

Bodies wrestling. Shattering glass. Finally, a single gunshot.

Keek, keek, keek!

Silence.

Taylor covered her face with both hands, grinding her teeth in silent fear for her life.